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Tax hike will keep leisure centre open
2:07pm Thursday 6th December 2007
Comments (16)PEOPLE in Calne are facing a big increase in their council tax bill but will be rewarded with a re-opened leisure centre.
The town council has pledged £50,000 over two years to help get the leisure centre open again but an average household will pay an extra £15.35 a year to help cover the cost.
Town clerk Ann Kingdon said: "We believe the majority of people in Calne want to see the leisure centre open again and they want the sports pitches at Beversbrook.
"The feedback we have had is that most people are willing to pay a little extra to have the leisure centre."
In April the council unanimously voted to grant the leisure centre £50,000 spread over two years. About £10,000 a year will go on business rates to North Wiltshire District Council The town council precept is to go up by 11.66 per cent - more than double last year.
But not everyone is happy with the increase.
Amanda Drew, who lives on Dixon Way, said: "Council tax money is difficult to find now. We are going to struggle when these increases come in.
"I understand the council needs to support the leisure centre but why is it us that are having to pay out."
Nick Belson, who lives and works in Calne, said: "Every town should have a good leisure facility.
"Originally the council offered to support the leisure centre.
"People in our office have been asking how the council can make such a huge increase without consulting us first."
Peter Dolman, volunteer finance director for Calne Leisure Centre Ltd, which has the lease for the centre, said: "I understand the people of Calne are reacting to this and I know we are responsible for nine per cent of the increase.
"But if the people of Calne want a decent leisure centre they are going to have to pay for it."
Councillors decided to support the charges at a council meeting on November 26.
Coun John Ireland, who opposed the increase, said after the meeting: "When we took on the sporting facilities the council agreed the people of Calne would not be penalised.
"People are going to feel betrayed.
"I just don't believe this increase is necessary."
He left the meeting before the vote was taken and so the vote to increase the town's share of the council tax by an average of £15.35 a year was passed unanimously.
At the moment people living in an average Band D property in Calne pay £131.68 to the town council and next year this will rise to £147.03.
Your Say YourThe Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
me, calne says...
9:09pm Thu 6 Dec 07
david, Calne says...
11:31am Fri 7 Dec 07
Don't get me wrong, I have got no issue paying extra council tax for the leisure centre. I just feel the people of Calne are being unfairly treated. If it weren't for Sainsbury's having a lease on the car parks, I guarantee that the District Council would have introduced parking charges so that we can pay for the leisure facilities in other towns.
Also it is the first I heard of the increase and all of a sudden its agreed. I take it the council learned from their mistake with announcing Xmas parties in November earned revenue for the council and lanterns don't.
Brian Heath, Calne says...
12:58pm Fri 7 Dec 07
I fully support the re-opening of the Leisure Centre, but no-one ever consulted me as to whether I would be prepared to pay more council tax to cover the Town Council's grant - and I'm not happy.
The sad truth is that The White Horse Leisure Centre should never have been closed in the first place, and it was through no fault of the people of Calne that the North Wiltshire District Council made such a ****-up of its management of this and other centres that it had to close. Therefore it should really be the NWDC which pays the £50000 on top of what it has already contributed to the re-opening - after all, it has suddenly found £400,000 to spend on tarting up the Olympiad (which I understand STILL does not have any seating in its bar area) so it clearly has money to spare from the savings it made by closing three of its centres.
Another sad truth is that many Calne people have joined St Marys Sports Centre and are very happy with its facilities and what they get for their money. Just pitching its own full membership a few quid below St Marys will not be enough for the re-opened Calne Leisure Centre to lure these people back, because they have that lurking fear that if they give up their St Marys membership to rejoin Calne, and then the Calne venture goes belly up (God forbid) and the centre has to close yet again, they will once again be left with no-where to go!
David's comment above about the people of Calne being unfairly treated is, of course, quite correct - but it's nothing new. In the thirty years I've lived here, Calne has always been the 'poor relation' as far as its treatment by NWDC is concerned, and the closure of the Leisure Centre was just one recent example of this.
awake, wiltshire says...
2:17pm Fri 7 Dec 07
NWDC should take a leaf out of swindons leisure facilities and the way they manage funds to deliver for everyone in society.
spooks, calne says...
5:29pm Fri 7 Dec 07
I fully support the re-opening of the Leisure Centre, but no-one ever consulted me as to whether I would be prepared to pay more council tax to cover the Town Council's grant - and I'm not happy.
well said.
www.calnetalk.com
John Ireland, Calne Wiltshire says...
7:40pm Sat 8 Dec 07
Daerg Doom, Calne says...
5:48pm Sun 9 Dec 07
Daerg Doom, Calne says...
5:48pm Sun 9 Dec 07
bonnie18, Calne says...
8:10pm Sun 9 Dec 07
The whole thing is a farce
me, calne says...
8:48pm Sun 9 Dec 07
P Dolman, Calne says...
4:37pm Mon 10 Dec 07
I agree that the double taxation of Calne Residents is not acceptable and this is something that Calne Leisure Centre will persue in the future but it is vital that we reopen the centre. The district council have given us £135,000 for which we are gratefull and without the support of the Town and district councils the centre could not have been saved. The indications are that there is large support and not only from people living in Calne. We have received bookings which means that we the hall is already booked solidly for 3 night every week. We will be errecting a stall outside Sainsburys this Saturday (15th) where the public can meet staff and learn about the programme. You can also sign up for membership and book classes.
The centre will reopen for public access on Saturday 5th January 2008!
I agree with some of the comments that Calne does seem to miss out but the answer is not to whinge about it but to we all need to get out of our comfortable chairs and do something about it. Actions speak louder than words!!!!!!!!!!
spooks, calne says...
4:04pm Tue 11 Dec 07
The thing is we will get another huge tax hike when woolworths go up as well.
me, calne says...
9:50am Wed 12 Dec 07
Joe, Calne says...
10:12pm Sat 29 Dec 07
The council spends about 10k supporting a Drop in centre which barely opens and has no real purpose perhaps money like this could go to the leisure centre?
The council spends alot of money on alot of things and we dont all get the benefit of everything but thats just the way it goes.
Before raising council tax though the council should take a good look at what it spends its money on and how nessesary it is as council tax is an ever increasing burden for us all.
How on earth does it cost 150 grand to repave Phelps parade??
Joe, Calne says...
10:14pm Sat 29 Dec 07
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me, calne says...
9:07pm Thu 6 Dec 07